Posted on May 01, 2017, BY Samantha Wallace

Celebrating the accomplishments of nearly 900 graduates, Bucknell University's 167th Commencement will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 21, on Malesardi Quadrangle.

The University will confer 889 degrees, with 868 students receiving bachelor's degrees and 21 receiving master's degrees. The College of Arts & Sciences will confer 699 undergraduate degrees, while the College of Engineering will award 169.

The Class of 2017 represents 37 states as well as 19 countries.

The student speaker for commencement will be Max Ferrer '17, a history and philosophy major. Alex Golden '17, a theatre major, will sing the national anthem.

A live streaming video of the entire ceremony will be available online.

Commencement speakerDelivering the keynote address will be renowned journalist and author Fareed Zakaria. The host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, Zakaria also writes a weekly column for The Washington Post and has been a columnist for Newsweek, editor of Newsweek International, and an editor-at-large of Time. He is the author of five books, three of them international bestsellers, and his latest, In Defense of a Liberal Education, argues for the continued relevance of the liberal arts in the face of increasing political criticism and focus on job-readiness.

"Fareed Zakaria has traveled the path on which our graduates are about to set out: the search for personal and professional success built on the foundation of a liberal arts education," said Bucknell President John Bravman. "In addition to championing the liberal arts, Mr. Zakaria possesses a vast knowledge of public affairs, and I believe the members of the Class of 2017 will benefit greatly from his insights and perspective on the world around us."

Weather updatesIn the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in Gerhard Fieldhouse. If necessary, a decision to move the event will be made by 7 a.m. on May 21, and an alert will be emailed to the campus community and posted to the University's website and social media channels. Signs also will be posted at the entrances to Malesardi Quadrangle and the lobby of the Elaine Langone Center.

If the ceremony is forced indoors, only graduates and ticket holders will be permitted. Other guests will be able to view a live broadcast of the event at one of several locations, including the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, Trout Auditorium in the Vaughan Literature Building and several classrooms.

For more information, including a complete schedule of all Commencement Weekend events, registration and general information, visit Commencement 2017.

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